Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil are now doubts for this weekend’s game with Sunderland due to ‘illness‘.

As Per usual

Bacary Sagna had been looked upon to fill in for the injured defenders in previous games, and now the Frenchman is likely to have to do the same.

Although Sagna performed fantastically in games such as the one away at Fulham, the right-back is no match for the partnership formed by Koscielny and Mertesacker.

Das Sicknote

Mesut Ozil is also likely to sit out due to the same illness, despite the £42million man hoping to make his debut at the Stadium of Light.

He was favourite to replace the injured Tomas Rosicky in a straight swap in midfield, however he could now make his first Gunners appearance either away in Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday or at home to Stoke the following weekend.

The BBC’s David Ornstein was on hand to break the news of both illnesses to the Arsenal supporters who were hopeful of seeing the big defender and new number 10 in the starting eleven this Saturday:

“Ozil missed training (illness) but travels to Sunderland, Mertesacker also ill & does not travel, Vermaelen travels #bbcsportsday #afc #safc”

Das Positives

The news that Ozil will travel with the squad is a positive one, as is the news that Thomas Vermaelen could finally make his return to action. The Belgian had set his sights on the Capital One Cup game against West Bromwich Albion as his comeback game however any minutes under his belt are a bonus.

The main focus will be on Ozil and we expect to see more camera shots of the German sitting on the sidelines than the actual football being played. With such a fee being paid and with Wenger under pressure to make his big new signing count, Ozil himself could make or break the Gunners’ season.

Whether it be this week or next, we are all excited to see Ozil pulling on the red strip soon.

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